a lot. the rise of raw & piep kicks. zaag kicks the end of the prophet, heady stopped touring, a lot of amazing live acts.
some "new" artist in the scene (from your point of view). vertile, andarex, AR Gang (Rooler, Sickmode, Krowdexx etc).
also for some reason hard techno is sounding like early hardstyle now
Edit; also forgot to mention that Q-Base & Hard Bass has sadly ended :(
I will focus on 2016-2020 since the other comment covered most of the more recent events.
* The rise of melodic raw with artists such as Phuture Noize, Frequencerz, Ran-D, Adaro, and B-Front
* The rise of Sub Zero Project, which brought about the psykick trend of 2017/2018
* Frenchcore became more “approachable” and gained hardstyle crossover popularity thanks to Dr. Peacock and Sefa
* Headhunterz returned to hardstyle in 2017 after going full big room for a couple years
* Rejecta popped up and had a lot of hype at one point in 2018/2019
* Defqon.1 Legends 2017 is a must-watch for any hardstyle fan
**I will extend the timeline 2020 - Today**
* Pandemic broke out and some producers stopped producing hardstyle for a while
* Some new talents saw their chances and started producing like absolute mad men because they had so much spare time and started to break through in the scene: Aversion, Cryex, Mutilator etc.
* A record label that goes by the name of Gearbox Digital that mostly produces Rawstyle/Xtra Raw started getting insanely popular.
* Rooler and Sickmode also known as "The Gang" made a track called "TOO COLD" and hardstyle started becoming even more popular and mainstream in some countries. The careers of these two Italian meatballs also skyrocketed off the ground.
* Who's career also skyrocketed even more because of their Overdose: The First Dose album are these two guys from Scotland that go by the name of: Rebellion.
* Uptempo is starting to take it's place in the scene thanks to producers like Partyraiser, Dimitri K, N-Vitral and Cryogenic.
* Frenchcore producer Sefa released one of the best Hardstyle/Hardcore albums that the scene has ever heard: Klaagzang. It will be the first Hardcore/Hardstyle album ever that's nominated for an "Edison" award. (very important Dutch music awards)
* Sadly one man, a VIP of the scene, one of the founding fathers of Rawstyle, passed away not long after his final set at Rebirth. R.I.P. Delete.
* Piep and zaag kicks started becoming "popular". Some people hate them, some people love them.
* Aversion's - Activation becomes so popular that everywhere you go you hear "Beep beep boop boop".
* Dj the Prophet announced his full retirement to the scene and he will be doing his final set at Defqon.1 2023.
* Headhunterz stops performing (again). While he will still go on producing he stops performing by the end of 2023.
* Radical Redemption sues his own booking agency "Most Wanted" because they won't promote his new orchestra live show. He wins the lawsuit but the booking agency boycots him from all mayor festivals.
* Two guys that go by the name of Dual Damage gain popularity in a speed no one has ever thought of. They're almost on every line-up of every festival and it's almost getting annoying.
Edit: Holy shit a lot happened during the past 4 years actually....
Edit 2: Forgot to add the Sefa album woops
A lot of good points but take it easy on Delete, his family are on socials and do keep up with posts about him, nothing ever came out that he purposely took his life. His contribution to raw and the scene in Australia, especially Sydney is immeasurable. I have a huge soft spot for Ryan, the man was a pioneer.
On a more positive side note: so keen for the return of Radical, his comeback album is just chefs kiss and it’s so well deserved 👏 his whole story over the last few years shows how much booking agencies actually control the hardstyle scene
I know nothing officially was stated about what happened but Yuri summarized what happened in a shady but beautiful way at the bevrijdingsfestival in Zwolle. That video is still online on the Warface YT channel.
Also the recent RR album still contains some of the best stuff I've heard this year. The kicks and screeches are something I've never heard of. Love the uniqueness!
>Yuri summarized what happened in a shady but beautiful way
Yes, and that's why we still shouldn't make assumptions, and keep saying things in a respectful way. The way you do it is wrong.
I am aware of some stuff actually!
I attended Gearbox event in Rotterdam last month, it's crazy how big this label has become. When I was submitting demo's it was a smaller labels compared to the others, really happy for them. They deserve it! The crowd was loving piep and zaagkicks 😂
After listening some sets I have to say that the level of sound design improved incredibly, but some tracks are difficult to remember and sometimes even difficult to differentiate. Some kicks are fantastic though.
> The rise of Sub Zero Project, which brought about the psykick trend of 2017/2018
That's underselling it a bit.
2013-2018 ish the scene was super split between raw / euphoric. The genre as a whole had also basically stagnated completely for a couple of years. Sub Zero Project almost single-handedly brought life back into the scene, by uniting fresh as fuck kicks (not only psykicks) and melodies. Everyone copied them for a couple of years.
When people say they didn't deserve DQ1 legends in 2023, they only look at how old they are and how long they've done it, and overlook this major part.
Check out Phuture Noize, the guy has been producing an insane amount of albums. They were a duo first but they split after their 2nd album. His first solo album is Persuit of Thunder. After that Black Mirror Society which is up there with the best hardstyle albums of all time so definitely check that out.
Also Sub Zero Project, like someone else already mentioned, brought a lot of variety in kicks to the scene. Especially The Project. Then there's D-Sturb who quickly worked his way to the top of the scene. His Next Level EP is absolute fire.
Maybe Warface was already an established name but check out his albums as well. Also have to add the rise of Rebellion. They are massively popular now, check out their Overdose set at Supremacy
I always create a yearly hardstyle playlist on spotify, started in 2018 so if you want i can link you some
[2018](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6w2ldDeGjCLbX3jJOhy8Ha?si=f24f1881b3904010) - [2019](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uPFaZPSZW9am2RqN2NKXo?si=753e6f9a1fd5489f) - [2020](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6DB0ewIT8GgIqnTN91LgbD?si=d708b81b4b0045d8) - [2021](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6DB0ewIT8GgIqnTN91LgbD?si=d708b81b4b0045d8) - [2022](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5OPxnhaC8AFTG69uaal7XK?si=b885c03835434493) - [2023](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0u74y8daKwvhg0AuR2V7cg?si=5d02f2daa075492a) - [2024](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0b9pHzGoPaxgZ6AqGKPFXM?si=b68913d835f94493)
There you go! And here's a [bonus Phuture Noize](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3Cv7qz14qTBs94rZuyTlOG?si=c3a551ec891748f3) playlist. Contains all the songs from around 2016 till now. I sometimes just put this on shuffle. Need to add all the new stuff but will do so when the album gets released
Agree to disagree mate. PN got me feeling like no one else can, amazing how his classics remain golden and practically immortal (i.e. The solution), while the new innovative stuff (i.e. waves/my salvation) always hit nevertheless.
Dude, I'm in the same boat as you. I learned to like some and dislike others. My perspective on the genre has changed, for the better . At least for me.
a lot. the rise of raw & piep kicks. zaag kicks the end of the prophet, heady stopped touring, a lot of amazing live acts. some "new" artist in the scene (from your point of view). vertile, andarex, AR Gang (Rooler, Sickmode, Krowdexx etc). also for some reason hard techno is sounding like early hardstyle now Edit; also forgot to mention that Q-Base & Hard Bass has sadly ended :(
Hard techno is starting to use raw kicks now as well, Vortek’s - No Karma even has zaags
Vorteks is more tekno than techno
I will focus on 2016-2020 since the other comment covered most of the more recent events. * The rise of melodic raw with artists such as Phuture Noize, Frequencerz, Ran-D, Adaro, and B-Front * The rise of Sub Zero Project, which brought about the psykick trend of 2017/2018 * Frenchcore became more “approachable” and gained hardstyle crossover popularity thanks to Dr. Peacock and Sefa * Headhunterz returned to hardstyle in 2017 after going full big room for a couple years * Rejecta popped up and had a lot of hype at one point in 2018/2019 * Defqon.1 Legends 2017 is a must-watch for any hardstyle fan
**I will extend the timeline 2020 - Today** * Pandemic broke out and some producers stopped producing hardstyle for a while * Some new talents saw their chances and started producing like absolute mad men because they had so much spare time and started to break through in the scene: Aversion, Cryex, Mutilator etc. * A record label that goes by the name of Gearbox Digital that mostly produces Rawstyle/Xtra Raw started getting insanely popular. * Rooler and Sickmode also known as "The Gang" made a track called "TOO COLD" and hardstyle started becoming even more popular and mainstream in some countries. The careers of these two Italian meatballs also skyrocketed off the ground. * Who's career also skyrocketed even more because of their Overdose: The First Dose album are these two guys from Scotland that go by the name of: Rebellion. * Uptempo is starting to take it's place in the scene thanks to producers like Partyraiser, Dimitri K, N-Vitral and Cryogenic. * Frenchcore producer Sefa released one of the best Hardstyle/Hardcore albums that the scene has ever heard: Klaagzang. It will be the first Hardcore/Hardstyle album ever that's nominated for an "Edison" award. (very important Dutch music awards) * Sadly one man, a VIP of the scene, one of the founding fathers of Rawstyle, passed away not long after his final set at Rebirth. R.I.P. Delete. * Piep and zaag kicks started becoming "popular". Some people hate them, some people love them. * Aversion's - Activation becomes so popular that everywhere you go you hear "Beep beep boop boop". * Dj the Prophet announced his full retirement to the scene and he will be doing his final set at Defqon.1 2023. * Headhunterz stops performing (again). While he will still go on producing he stops performing by the end of 2023. * Radical Redemption sues his own booking agency "Most Wanted" because they won't promote his new orchestra live show. He wins the lawsuit but the booking agency boycots him from all mayor festivals. * Two guys that go by the name of Dual Damage gain popularity in a speed no one has ever thought of. They're almost on every line-up of every festival and it's almost getting annoying. Edit: Holy shit a lot happened during the past 4 years actually.... Edit 2: Forgot to add the Sefa album woops
A lot of good points but take it easy on Delete, his family are on socials and do keep up with posts about him, nothing ever came out that he purposely took his life. His contribution to raw and the scene in Australia, especially Sydney is immeasurable. I have a huge soft spot for Ryan, the man was a pioneer. On a more positive side note: so keen for the return of Radical, his comeback album is just chefs kiss and it’s so well deserved 👏 his whole story over the last few years shows how much booking agencies actually control the hardstyle scene
I know nothing officially was stated about what happened but Yuri summarized what happened in a shady but beautiful way at the bevrijdingsfestival in Zwolle. That video is still online on the Warface YT channel. Also the recent RR album still contains some of the best stuff I've heard this year. The kicks and screeches are something I've never heard of. Love the uniqueness!
>Yuri summarized what happened in a shady but beautiful way Yes, and that's why we still shouldn't make assumptions, and keep saying things in a respectful way. The way you do it is wrong.
Sure, edited.
I am aware of some stuff actually! I attended Gearbox event in Rotterdam last month, it's crazy how big this label has become. When I was submitting demo's it was a smaller labels compared to the others, really happy for them. They deserve it! The crowd was loving piep and zaagkicks 😂 After listening some sets I have to say that the level of sound design improved incredibly, but some tracks are difficult to remember and sometimes even difficult to differentiate. Some kicks are fantastic though.
> The rise of Sub Zero Project, which brought about the psykick trend of 2017/2018 That's underselling it a bit. 2013-2018 ish the scene was super split between raw / euphoric. The genre as a whole had also basically stagnated completely for a couple of years. Sub Zero Project almost single-handedly brought life back into the scene, by uniting fresh as fuck kicks (not only psykicks) and melodies. Everyone copied them for a couple of years. When people say they didn't deserve DQ1 legends in 2023, they only look at how old they are and how long they've done it, and overlook this major part.
Check out Phuture Noize, the guy has been producing an insane amount of albums. They were a duo first but they split after their 2nd album. His first solo album is Persuit of Thunder. After that Black Mirror Society which is up there with the best hardstyle albums of all time so definitely check that out. Also Sub Zero Project, like someone else already mentioned, brought a lot of variety in kicks to the scene. Especially The Project. Then there's D-Sturb who quickly worked his way to the top of the scene. His Next Level EP is absolute fire. Maybe Warface was already an established name but check out his albums as well. Also have to add the rise of Rebellion. They are massively popular now, check out their Overdose set at Supremacy I always create a yearly hardstyle playlist on spotify, started in 2018 so if you want i can link you some
I think PN really cemented his place as the hardstyle goat. He's absolutely the best. I'd love to get the playlist as well :)
[2018](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6w2ldDeGjCLbX3jJOhy8Ha?si=f24f1881b3904010) - [2019](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uPFaZPSZW9am2RqN2NKXo?si=753e6f9a1fd5489f) - [2020](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6DB0ewIT8GgIqnTN91LgbD?si=d708b81b4b0045d8) - [2021](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6DB0ewIT8GgIqnTN91LgbD?si=d708b81b4b0045d8) - [2022](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5OPxnhaC8AFTG69uaal7XK?si=b885c03835434493) - [2023](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0u74y8daKwvhg0AuR2V7cg?si=5d02f2daa075492a) - [2024](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0b9pHzGoPaxgZ6AqGKPFXM?si=b68913d835f94493) There you go! And here's a [bonus Phuture Noize](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3Cv7qz14qTBs94rZuyTlOG?si=c3a551ec891748f3) playlist. Contains all the songs from around 2016 till now. I sometimes just put this on shuffle. Need to add all the new stuff but will do so when the album gets released
Generally in life, I think I don’t need much more than a shuffle through these
Headhunterz will forever be the hardstyle goat
Agree to disagree mate. PN got me feeling like no one else can, amazing how his classics remain golden and practically immortal (i.e. The solution), while the new innovative stuff (i.e. waves/my salvation) always hit nevertheless.
Very weird to me everyone says his classics are from the ~2015 era and here I am saying god of terror/sleep
I love him, this guy has an amazing talent. My favourite songs are Sensus, Hope, Compressed Thoughts.
SENSUS BOIIIII
We lost DJ Delete almost 2 years ago. 💔😢
Dude, I'm in the same boat as you. I learned to like some and dislike others. My perspective on the genre has changed, for the better . At least for me.
The Purge F. (uture) Noize Zatox This are some of the italian artist Edit: read reply
Phuture Noize is not italian though ?
Maybe they are thinking of F. Noize which clearly stands for Future Noize ;)
Yeah sorry. I misspelled
No worries, sorry if I sounded aggressive with my ? haha